Folding crate.



PATBNTBD Nov. 10, 1903.

` C. A. BBITTABNMILLBR.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY e. 190s.

z sH'IgETs-SHEBT 1.

N0 MODEL* PATBNTED NOV. 10, 1903.

- No. 743,808: o. A. BEITTBNMILLER.

FOLDING 'GRATE".

APPLIGATION FILE-D JULY 6, 190s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Tus mams PETERS co. Pnofarhm wnsmdcrrcu. u. c.

Nrrnp rains Patenten November 1o, 190e.

vForum@ CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of .Letters Patent No. 743,808, datedNovember 10, 1903.v Application filed July 6, 1903. Serial No. 164,365l(No model.l

To all wiz/0m, it may con/cern.-

Be it known that l, CHARLES ALEXANDER.

BnrrrnNi/imnnn,aJ citizen ofthe United States, residing at Philadelphia,county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented acertain new and useful Improvement in Folding Crates, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in folding crates,and has for its object to provide a shipping-cratewhich may be foldedfor return shipment in an exceedingly compact form, but when extendedand in its operative shape is exceedingly durable and as strong andconvenient as an ordinary solid crate. e

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may under stand how to make and use the same, theconstruction and operation will now be described in detail,referrin g tothe accom panying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich- Figure l is a perspective View of the crate extended; Fig. 2, alongitudinal section through the same; Fig. 3, a cross section throughthe crate; Fig. 4, a cross-section of the crate folded; Fig. 5, aperspective view of the crate folded.

A represents the bottom ofthe crate.

B represents the ends of the crate, which are hinged to the bottom A ata slight distance inward from each end, and these ends B are so hingedas to fold inward dat against the bottom of the crate toward oneanother.

A' represents strips extending laterally across the bottom A and securedthereto outside of the ends B, and these strips A are of substantiallythe same thickness as the thickness of the ends B, and the side C ishinged at each end to these strips A', so'that said side may be foldedinward and lie flat above the ends B when they are folded.

D is the lid or cover-,Which is hinged to the upper edge of the side Cand is hinged in such a manner that when the sides (l are folded inwardthe lid D may fold backward upon theA upper side of the side C, as shownin Fig. 4t.

E is a strip set on edge and running longitudinally of the crate andsecured to the hottom A upon the opposite side to the sideC.

IIinged to the upper edge of this strip E is the side F,which is sohinged as to also fold inward, and the strip Eis of such a height thatwhen the side F is folded inward it Will lie flat above the cover D,thus completing the folding of the crate, It will thus be seen that thecrate can be folded in an exceedingly compact form for return shipment.

For the purpose of holding the crate in its extended shape any means canbe employed desired. In the drawings I have shown hooks G pivoted to theends B and hooking into staples secured to the sides C and F. For thepurpose of allowing entrance to the crate without raising the cover Iprovide in the cover a door H, which is composed of the longitudinalside strips I, the cross-strips J, and the grating K. The cross-strips.I are at a slight distance from each end of the longitudinal strips H,and extending through these extended ends of the strips H are bolts K,which extend through openings in the strips Hinto openings in the stripsof the lid D. K

These bolts K are provided with right-angle ends,whereby the same maybe'manipulated. The cover H may be opened from either end lby pullingthe bolts K toward one another,

so as to slide them out of engagement with the strips of the lid D, andthen the door II may he swung upon the opposite bolt upward, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 2. Thus the door may be swung open from either endand allow entrance to the crate, which is a great advantage when thecrate is being used for the shipment of fowls, as it will allow for theinsertion of a persons arm Without allowing too great an opening for thefowls to escape. j

Of course I do not Wish to be limited to the exact construction hereshown, as slight modifloat-ions could be made without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulisel. In a folding crate, a bottom, two ends IOO hinged to the bottom ata slight distance inward from each end so as to fold inward, lateralstrips secured to the bottom outside of the ends, one side hinged tosaid strips so as to fold inward, a lid or eover hinged to the upperedge of said side so as to foldV back upon the same when the side isfolded inward, a longitudinal strip secured to the bottom upon theopposite side, a side hinged to the upper edge of said strip so as tofold inward upon the @over when the crate is folded, means for holdingthe crate in its extended position, the cover or lid provided with anopening, a grated door fitted within said opening, bolts extendingthrough the side strips of the door into the lid or cover at eaeh end,said bolts adapted to slide so as to be withdrawn from the lid or coverso that the door may be swung upon the opposite bolts from either end,as specified.

2. In a folding crate, a bottom, two end pieces hinged to the bottom ata slight distance inward from eaoh end so as to fold in- Ward, lateralstrips secured to the bottom upon the outside of the ends, said lateralStrips being the same thickness as the thickness of the end pieces, aside hinged to the lateral strip so as to fold inward above the endpieces, a cover or lid hinged to the upper edge of the side so as tofold backward upon the top of the side when the same is folded, alongitudinal strip secured to the bottom upon the opposite side, a sidehinged to the upper edge of said strip so as t0 fold inward, saidlongitudinal strip being of such a height as to allow this side to foldflat upon the cover when the crate is folded, means for holding thecrate in its extended position, the lid or oover provided with anopening, a grated door fitted within said opening, bolts extendingthrough eaoh end of said strip into the lid or cover, the bolts uponeach end adapted to be retracted so that the door may be swung upwardupon the opposite bolts from either end, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing wituesses.

CHARLES ALEXANDER BEII'TENMILLER.

SAMUEL CRAIG. WILHELMINA Serum BEITTENMILLER.

